Transaction cards with discontinuous metal strata

Abstract

A transaction card having a discontinuous metal stratum with a desired degree of electrical eddy current disruption disposed on a surface of a first layer, such as a glass or other transparent layer. A transaction module disposed in the first layer is electrically isolated from the discontinuous metal stratum. The discontinuous metal stratum may include a plurality of isolated metal features that form a halftone pattern, such as a pattern that is visibly opaque to the naked eye.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A transaction card, comprising:
 at least a first glass layer;   a discontinuous metal stratum disposed on a first surface of the glass layer and having a degree of electrical eddy current disruption, the discontinuous metal stratum comprising a plurality of discontinuities forming a pattern that is perceptible to a human eye; and   a contact, contactless, or dual interface transaction module disposed in the first glass layer and electrically isolated from the discontinuous metal stratum.   
     
     
         2 . The transaction card of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discontinuities are configured to avoid synchronization of eddy currents of adjacent metal regions in the presence of less than a predetermined level of energy. 
     
     
         3 . The transaction card of  claim 1 , wherein discontinuous metal stratum comprises a plurality of isolated metal features forming the pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The transaction card of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of metal features is separated from adjacent metal features by at least a predetermined minimum distance. 
     
     
         5 . The transaction card of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined minimum distance is a distance calculated to avoid bridging of energy between adjacent halftone dots when less than a predetermined level of energy is present. 
     
     
         6 . The transaction card of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined level of energy comprises a maximum field strength of a contactless transaction card reader. 
     
     
         7 . The transaction card of  claim 1 , further comprising a second layer of glass and a metallized booster antenna disposed on a surface of the second glass layer, the metallized booster antenna coupled to or configured to couple to the transaction module and electrically isolated from the discontinuous metal stratum on the first layer of glass. 
     
     
         8 . The transaction card of  claim 7 , wherein the metallized booster antenna is transparent. 
     
     
         9 . The transaction card of  claim 8 , wherein the metallized antenna comprises indium tin oxide (ITO). 
     
     
         10 . The transaction card of  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous metal stratum is disposed on a first outer surface of the first glass layer. 
     
     
         11 . The transaction card of  claim 3 , further comprising an electrical isolating material disposed between adjacent metal features in the discontinuous metal stratum. 
     
     
         12 . The transaction card of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of glass comprises a flexible or conformable glass. 
     
     
         13 . The transaction card of  claim 7 , wherein one or both of the first layer of glass and the second layer of glass comprises a flexible or conformable glass. 
     
     
         14 . The transaction card of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional layers. 
     
     
         15 . The transaction card of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more additional layers is selected from the group consisting of: a printed ink layer, a laminated layer, a laser patterned layer, a coated layer, a photolithographic layer, a printed OLED layer, an embedded electronics layer, or a vacuum deposited layer. 
     
     
         16 . The transaction card of  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous metal stratum includes one or more transparent areas that permit visibility of an underlying surface or layer of the card. 
     
     
         17 . The transaction card of  claim 16 , wherein the underlying surface or layer visible through the one or more transparent areas includes another discontinuous metal stratum. 
     
     
         18 . A transaction card, comprising:
 a first layer;   a discontinuous metal stratum disposed on a first surface of the first layer and comprising a plurality of isolated metal features that form a halftone pattern that is perceptible to a human eye;   and a contact, contactless, or dual interface transaction module disposed in the first layer and electrically isolated from the discontinuous metal stratum.   
     
     
         19 . The transaction card of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of isolated metal features is separated from adjacent metal features by at least a predetermined minimum distance calculated to avoid bridging of energy between adjacent isolated metal features in the presence of less than a predetermined level of energy comprising a maximum field strength of a contactless transaction card reader. 
     
     
         20 . The transaction card of  claim 18 , wherein the first layer comprises a non-metal layer. 
     
     
         21 . The transaction card of  claim 20 , wherein the non-metal layer comprises a transparent material. 
     
     
         22 . The transaction card of  claim 20 , further comprising an underlying layer disposed beneath the non-metal layer, wherein the halftone pattern is perceptible to the human eye as a continuous opaque layer that hides visibility of the underlying layer. 
     
     
         23 . The transaction card of  claim 22 , wherein the underlying layer comprises a metal layer. 
     
     
         24 . The transaction card of  claim 23 , wherein the underlying metal layer comprises a plurality of discontinuities. 
     
     
         25 . The transaction card of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of isolated metal features is configured to avoid synchronization of eddy current of adjacent metal regions when a predetermined level of energy is present.